French bakery chain Ladurée to launch vegan macarons in the UK

Traditional French bakery chain Ladurée wouldn’t normally be a vegan’s first stop in Covent Garden, but now the 159-year old bakery is launching two vegan macarons and a vegan gingerbread loaf, all in time for Christmas.

After the vegan macarons were launched in Paris locations last year, the chain has decided to release the flavours in the UK.

For the first time, the bakery will be offering a fully vegan Christmas box consisting of their two vegan macaron flavours: Coconut Caramel and chocolatey Pure Origine Peru.

Described as ‘a real treat of sweet flavours from childhood with a strong caramel note’, the Coconut Caramel Macaron is made dairy-free using emulsified coconut oil, sunflower oil and soy milk to recreate butter.

Meanwhile, the Pure Origine Peru possesses ‘the essence of gourmet elegance with hints of woody smokiness’ and features a vegan-friendly ganache made using a blend of millet, almond milk and hazelnut milk.

• London bakery goes vegan overnight after watching Earthling Ed video
• French biologists crack the recipe to create realistic vegan eggs
• Easy Vegan Macarons with Chocolate Filling

The vegan macarons will be available to purchase from Ladurée stores and at Ladurée.co.uk from November 4 with prices for a box of 8 macarons starting at £19.50 and a box of 24 retailing at £52.50.

The chain is also launching a vegan Gingerbread Loaf Cake, available exclusively in the UK. Described as ‘melt-in-the-mouth and deliciously moist’, the new vegan cake takes inspiration from classic gingerbread recipes whilst remaining completely plant-based and dairy-free.

Part of a collaboration with two-star Michelin Chef, Jean-François Piège, the new Christmas collection has something for everyone, demonstrating that beautiful French patisserie doesn’t have to include dairy.

The collection will be available from 4 November until 31 December 2020 in Ladurée stores and at Ladurée.co.uk